It's OK pottering about in your neighborhood, but how would my ultra recreational modern body fittin' steel bike do in the Pyrenees?

The first test was a 12km Col after 40 k's of relative flat. With a full backpack on, two hiking boots wrapped around my bars in plastic bags, two full water bottles and a frame pump, I found I was in the 29 only for around 100 metres, and got that ' I wish this was over' feeling only for around 10 sec's. When I arrived at the Gite, I was still able to socialise for 4 hours afterwards, with peep's asking me wasn't I tired?

Takling a 20% plus slope to get into the meat of the next climb the next day, I was twirling my 29 in comfort in the saddle albeit breathing quickly though comfortably, a good sign for any Belgian sportives I might want to do. After 5 days of 7 hour hiking with my friends, my legs were pretty shot but I did half of a much steeper 11 k climb 3X more, before the afternoon hike; I could have got to the top but I would have been knackered and unable to do the PM hike.

The descent brought the Chorus g/set really into it's own. Despite going over 60kph I was on the hoods all the time with fingertip breaking, and was relaxed at the bottom. I was no doubt helped by the poor smoothness of my rear Elite hub, but all the same.

The negatives; would I like to do the Marmotte on my machine? Yes, but a CF would be easier.

That aside, I feel I have a sublime machine that's more than proven itself in the harshest terrain. With the caveat of the Marmotte aside, I could not wish for a faster smoother machine. The modern steels are a wonderment, as is Campy Chorus. It pays rich dividends having a jig fitted frame.

A torrential tidal wave of how sodding brilliant my latest - 2.000.000lb CF bike is, an honest review instead of how steel performs on a typical cycling holiday for those of us who ride steel. That is the point.

Well guys, I don't have a camera, also I have never heard of Rouleur magazine or come within a mile of clicking on a Rapha youtube link; I'm a form over fashion chap. If and when graphene comes on the market, I'l be fighting you at the tills. And I've put as much CF on me bike as the shitty roads of a capital city and my girth can allow.

Who is online

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum